When in India.

January 2015 - January 2016 was an excellent bookend year for my passport. By the way, I think we've really figured this Boston winter thing out...leave town for a warm and exotic location right when the snow is starting to fall. Last year Nick and I went on our honeymoon in Bora Bora before Snowpocalypse hit, and this week we just got back from another surreal trip, this time to celebrate our friends' wedding in India.

A group of U.S. friends traveled together, and none of us had ever visited India. We did the typical "Golden Triangle" tourist track, starting in Delhi (the capital), going on to Agra (where the Taj Mahal is), and finishing in Jaipur (the old palace city). From Jaipur we flew to Ahmedabad where the wedding took place. I had never been to an Indian wedding before...the aunties and cousins were kind enough to translate and explain many of the traditions and ceremonies we took part in.

In addition, I've never been too familiar with Indian food (besides naan, one can never be too familiar with naan) other than a small handful of restaurants in Boston but far better as a guest in friends' homes. We adopted a "When in India" attitude and tried as much as we could, and our adventurousness was rewarded.

My top ten list from the trip (in no particular order; photos courtesy of Angele, Mehul, Nick, Jessica and Melissa):

1. Finally getting to meet the beautiful bride, family and friends...such a fun and welcoming group! (and some serious dancers)

2. The Taj Mahal in Agra (yep, that's us; no Photoshop here!)

 3. Riding an elephant / visiting the beautiful Amer Fort in Jaipur:

4. Food favorites: (besides all-you-can-eat naan, of course...cheating and grouping them together to preserve my "Top 10" limit)

a. Butter chicken - I could drink the amazing butter-tomato gravy with a spoon (one of many iterations we enjoyed, this one at Karim's in Old Delhi)

b. Paneer - cheese! smothered in a variety of sauces and always creamy and flavorful

c. Anything roasted in a tandoori oven - especially surprising were the vegetables (such as cauliflower, or gobi)

d. Dal - I'm usually not a huge lentil person, but the spice and flavors were too good to resist

e. Lassi - I didn't know you could have just plain lassi and not a fruit one, but at our bed and breakfast we enjoyed sweet lassi in the morning, which was basically a yogurt shake

5. Having henna done!

6. Dancing around the horse with the band as the resplendent groom rode tall:

7. This gorgeous part of the ceremony where the bride and groom meet for the first time and are bum-rushed by family members - the sparklers over the water were absolutely magical:

8. Traditional dress! (thanks to Mehul's parents for the beautiful lengha and Abi for lending a gorgeous saree)

9. Participating in the sangeet, the epic collection of dance shows choreographed and performed by the bride and groom's friends and family

(practice)

(showtime)

10. Reuniting with friends who have moved away from Boston: